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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 7 - YES, I AM COMING SOON! (REVELATION 19:11 - 22-21)
PART 7.1 - INTRODUCTION: REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!

3. What Does Jesus Christ Himself Say about His Coming Back?


Jesus Christ began his preaching in Galilee as follows: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! (Matthew 3:2).

In the beginning the people came in droves to him. They were fascinated about his healings. But when it became obvious that the elders and scribes in Jerusalem rejected Jesus, many of them broke also with him. In this situation the Lord asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” By this testimony Peter confessed that the young man in their midst, Jesus of Nazareth, is the fervently belonged Messiah and at the same time the Son of God. Yet the Lord forbade them to tell his mystery (Matthew 16:13-20). After this incisive dialogue Jesus began to prepare his disciples for his suffering, death and resurrection. He explained them that they will have to bear persecution and suffering, too, and that they have to practice self-denying permanently (Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-38).

However, as an encouragement, hope and comfort on their way of suffering Jesus made them aware of his glorious coming back. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27; Luke 9:26)

Some principles of the last judgment at his coming back Jesus had already indicated in his parables: He that sowed the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matthew 13:37-43; see also 13:49-50)

The Son of Mary replied to the Sadducees who denied the resurrection of the dead on a cunning trick question and explained them that the dead will not remain dead: Jesus answered and said to them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:29-32)

A few days before Jesus died on the cross, when he sat on the Mount of Olives together with his disciples opposite his beloved city, he prophesied them the stepwise intensification of the judgment of God also against the impenitent capital (Matthew 23:37-39; 24:1-36; Mark 13:1-32; Luke 21:25-28). At the same time he revealed them the unambiguous sign of his coming back so that nobody may deceive them. Therefore if they shall say to you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; do not believe it. For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:26-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 17:23-24.37; 21:25-28)

The consequence from the knowledge of this world-changing event means for all followers of Jesus: Watch therefore: for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming! (Matthew 24:32-44, here verse 42; Mark 13:28-37; Luke 21:29-36). Jesus asks his disciples to be prepared at any time to see him (Matthew 24:42-44; 25:1-13). Whoever believes in the coming back of the Lord is to be not sluggish, dreamy or lazy in the expectation of his near Coming but to show commitment with all his strength for Jesus and the coming of his kingdom. (Matthew 24:14; 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27).

In the decisive trial before the council in Jerusalem the acting high priest named Caiaphas asked Jesus after an unsuccessful examination the illegal catch question, I adjure you, “Tell us if you are the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God?” Jesus did not avoid this cunning challenge in front of the 72 representatives of his people and testified: You have said: nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 14:61-62; Luke 22:70).

In this response led by the spirit Jesus combined two messianic promises from Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13-14 in one sentence. With that he confirmed his divinity and his authority as Son of man. With this own testimony he asked his judges in an indirect manner to acknowledge and adore him, the bound defendant, as their coming judge and king. But Caiaphas screamed, “He has spoken blasphemy! ... What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is guilty of death.” (Matthew 26:57-68; here verses 65-66; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:66-71)

Thus Jesus testified with a single sentence in front of the representatives of his people legally his coming back in the clouds of heaven and therewith indicated the course and purpose of salvation history. As for his coming as Judge of the earth he had already revealed earlier as follows: When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations. And he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King shall say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ... Then he shall say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels! ... (Matthew 25:31-46)

With all lowliness Jesus testified that his father has not only given to him the judgment on the nations but also the authority at the time of his coming to rise up the dead: Verily, verily, I say to you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: For the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:25-29)

Jesus testified to his disciples, the Sanhedrim and all his listeners unambiguously that he is coming back so as to deliver his church and carry out as Lord and Judge the Last Judgment. In his speeches he mostly used his honorary title “The Son of Man” and confessed therewith that his father has given to him all authority in heaven and on earth so as to build the kingdom of his love and truth.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank You and worship You because You revealed to us through Your several promises that You would come again to raise the dead and judge everyone. We magnify You because You actually granted the hearers of Your word everlasting life. We ask You to give us strength to keep Your promises and Your warnings and to prepare ourselves for Your arrival through sanctifying our acts and our words. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. Which one of Jesus' sayings about his return touched you most? What are you going to do now?

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